Every parent knows the frustration of reading the same children’s book for what feels like the hundredth time. But now, a new trend has emerged: AI-generated storybooks that feature your own child as the protagonist.

Moms and dads are complaining that their mothers create these books without permission, using family photos and names to make them feel personal. However, critics argue that these so-called ‘personalized’ tales fall flat, often leaving kids disinterested and parents disappointed with the quality of the writing.

The technical shortcomings of AI-generated stories include spelling mistakes, incoherent narratives, and mismatches between text and images, according to research by Daozhi Xu. These issues mean that such books struggle to deliver the qualities that make them both educational and entertaining for young readers.

The literacy crisis among children is worsening, with 40% of fourth-graders reading below basic standards in the US. As more parents feel less inclined to read aloud to their kids, AI-generated books might seem like a quick fix—but experts suggest they are not an ideal substitute for human creativity and storytelling.